, 1887-08-11
A GRIEyOUs Loss.
Death mt Medical Lake Of Rev. John +.
Baker.

to-day, made so by the deatn at
Medical Lake ofRev. John F. Baker,
pastor Of the Baptist church Of this
city. Few deaths have occurred In
this county so deeply lamented and
so generally deplored. While Mr..
Bakers condition has been preca-
rious for many days, yet his friends
have been buoyed up with the hope
that an excellent constitution ana
the very best Of care would at last
prove the mastery over the disease,
and that he would be spared for
many years. But providence willed
1t otherwise and the grim messen-
ger came and took from the commu-
nifty one of the most promising OF Its
members.
Some weeks ago Mr.. Baker was
induced to take 9 rest from his min
isterial labors. He was an enthusi-
astic and indefatigable church work
er and by his constant and unweary-
affiiction that everyone who
pass away with rest. He went from
here to Medical Lake to put in his
vacation, a quiet resort where he
would have nothing to do but re-
cruit his strength. Shortly after ar
irving at the lake he was taken
down, and from the very first his
disease took on the most serious
form. His strength being broken
left him in poor condition to cope
with the insidious disease, and
though he fought manfully for life,
bearing up nobly in all his atfiiction,
the body was not equal to the task,
and at 8 o'clock and thirty.6ve min
utes yesterday morning the spirit
left its tenement of clay and scared
away to meet its maker. Every
day not only those of his own con-
gregation but scores of warm and
admiring friends outside the pale of
the church have watched eagerly
for reports from the sick mans bed
side, cheered by the least hopeful
bulletins, and touched with sorrow
when the indications were
not favorable. Sunday night
was a very trying one for the pa.
tient and his life hung upon thread
for hours, but Monday he rallied and
it was thought the crisis had been
passed and that he would manage to
weather the storm. However he
was too exhausted to recuperate.
Monday night it was to be seen that
he was beyond human aid and from
that time to the last he gradually
sunk away. Like the noble Chris.
tian that he was death had no terrors
to him, and like valiant and true
knight of the cross he answered the
summons without tremor.
We are not in position even to
give a brief sketch of the life of Rev.
John f. Baker. 1t is short and
simple story, but one that may be
taken for an example and initiated
with profit by all men. He was not
great man as greatness is meas
ured, but he was one OF Gods noble-
men, pure, honorable, high minded,
bright and intelligent, and in the
little circle in which he
lived his name. coupled with
all that is good and noble in the hu-
man mind will live green in memory
for all time to come. Mr.. Bakers
home was in Oregon, where his par
Baptist college at Chicago, some
self for the ministry, taking it up as
a life's work. Fresh from college, a
young and inexperienced man, he
accepted call to take charge of the
Baptist church at this place. The
writer met him when he preached
his first sermon here. Boyish in
years then, yet he was the dignified
disciple in the pulpit talking to his
gathered congregation. He was not
brilliant, yet he had pleasant, con-
vincing and happy faculty Of inter-
pretating the words Of holy writ, and
whether in the shadow lof his sane.
tuary, or mingling in the busy Imarts
among his fellow men he left the i'm
preston that he was one OF Gods
annointed, and his always pleasant
smile was like unto sunshine. His
life was without blemish, and
"none knew him but to love him."
1t was this cheerful disposition,
this noticeable magnetism, coupled
with an untiring energy and unceas-
ing labor that built up his congrega-
tion from a small flock to one of the
largest OF any denomination on the
city. Mr.. Baker was in the very
threshold Of what promised to be a
long and useful life. He was taken
before his ability was fairly devel-
oped. He could not have been more
than twenty.eight years of age. He
was but youth in the field he occu-
pied. There Is no telling what he
might have been had he been spared.
There was that in him to make
great divine. However, his accom-.
plishments were great for his short
time on earth and he has gained
his reward with life of immor-
tality.
To the grief-stricken wife, who
ministered unto his suffeIings, how
ering over his couch of pain like a
soothing angel, and to the bowed
down father, who summoned to his
bedside has anticipated his every
want, the heartfelt sympathy OF the
whole community is extended. May
they bear up under the weight of
sorrow, and calmly await the inevit-
able summons that will call them to
their loved one above.
Earthquake Prediction.
CrrV OF MEyIrD (yia GolvpstnnN